If one place on earth can prove that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, it’s Athens. There’s no denying it’s been a tough time for Greece’s capital city, as the national economy teeters and the world holds its breath to see what will happen next.

But on the eve of Sunday’s critical Greek elections, some 12,000 of the city’s resilient LGBTs and straight allies hit Klafthmonos Square for the eighth annual Athens Pride. With a these of “Love me, it’s free,” the daylong event included parade, street fair and nighttime concert.

The city is, of course, rich in queer history and culture, dating back some two millennia ago. Today, Athens’ gay scene is hot, friendly and booming: Cool new venues like Rooster are opening, even in the face of the crisis, and the fantastic glossy mag Antivirus deftly keeps everyone abreast of all the latest happenings.